National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole (Okla.) is scheduled on Tuesday to begin briefing his colleagues on the results of a forensic audit into the NRCC’s finances that was conducted in conjunction with an FBI investigation into a former treasurer’s activities.

According to GOP sources, Cole on Tuesday will brief NRCC Audit Chairman Mike Conaway (Texas) and NRCC Management Chairman John Kline (Minn.) on the outcome of an audit that was triggered when it was discovered that former NRCC Treasurer Christopher Ward had misappropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars in committee funds.

Cole is scheduled to brief the full NRCC executive committee on Thursday, with a briefing for the media set to follow.

According to GOP sources, the exact amount of money that Ward allegedly embezzled is still not known by the NRCC. However, the Washington Post, citing court documents, reported on Saturday that the amount is believed to be more than $500,000 over a five-year period.

— David M. Drucker